Tool holder provided with a damping means

• US 8,308,404 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2009
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EPB
• Original Assignee: EPB
• Inventors: Ostermann, Mathieu, Freyermuth, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): HOWELL, DANIEL W
• Application Number:
  US12/384,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20090257838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,314 Days
• Field of Search: 409/141, 409/234, 408/143, 408238-240, 267/137, 188378-380
• US Class Current: 409/141
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 2226/33 Elastomers, e.g. rubber
• CPC Class Codes: B23B 29/022 with vibration reducing means
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/108 on plastics springs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 408/76 Tool-carrier with vibration-damping means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 409/304312 with means to dampen vibration

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tool holder, such as a reaming head (1), or a milling arbor, provided with a damping means (2) in the form of an elongated body, which is arranged in an end compartment (3) of the tool holder (1), which compartment is of appropriate shape and size, and closed at its end by a body (4) for receiving a reaming head or by a milling element.

Tool holder characterized in that the damping means (2) is of the type presenting only radial absorption, and it is provided with at least one elastically deformable means (5), at least close to each end, where said elastically deformable means (5) extend between the envelope of the damping means (2) and the wall of the compartment (3) of the tool holder (1), and are clamped between the wall of the compartment (3) and the damping means (2), and where the ends of the damping means extend in the compartment (3) without stress.

The invention is applicable more particularly in the field of accessories for machine tools, with digital control, machining centers, flexible cells and workshops.

Claims

1. Tool holder provided with a damping means (2) in the form of an elongated body having a substantially cylindrical surface, which is arranged in an end compartment (3) of the tool holder (1) having a substantially cylindrical surface corresponding to the substantially cylindrical surface of the elongated body, and closed at its end by a body (4) for receiving a rotative tool like a reaming head or by a milling element, wherein the substantially cylindrical surface of the elongated body and the substantially cylindrical surface of the end compartment of the tool holder define a substantially uniform envelope therebetween, characterized in that the damping means (2) includes at least one elastically deformable means (5), at least close to each end of the cylindrical surface of the elongated body, where said elastically deformable means (5) extend between the envelope of the substantially cylindrical surface of the elongated body of the damping means (2) and the substantially cylindrical surface of the end compartment (3) of the tool holder (1), and are clamped between the wall of the compartment (3) and the damping means (2) to carry out the absorption of radial vibration movements provided by the held rotative tool and transmitted to the compartment (3) of the tool holder (1), and where the ends of the damping means in operable position are spaced apart from the end of the end compartment, such that shocks provided by slight axial movements of the damping means (2) itself in the compartment (3) are absorbed by the at least one elastically deformable means substantially without axial compression.

2. Tool holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastically deformable means (5) are annular elements made from a damping material, and fixed to the damping means (2) by cooperation with annular grooves (5′

) provided in said damping means (2).

3. Tool holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping means (2) is provided with more than two elastically deformable means (5).

4. Tool holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the elastically deformable means (5) are arranged at regular intervals and in equal numbers starting from each end.

5. Tool holder according to claims 1, characterized in that each end face of the damping means (2) is provided with a circular groove (2′

) for accommodating a ring-joint gasket (6), where the length of the damping means (2) that is provided with ring-joint gaskets (6) is slightly less than the length of the compartment (3) that is closed by the centering device (41) of the body (4) for receiving a reaming head or other part.

6. Tool holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the bottom of the compartment (3) and the back face of the centering device (41) of the body (4) for receiving a reaming head or other part are provided with a circular groove (3′

and 41′

), respectively, where these circular grooves (3′

, 41′

) are provided with ring-joint gaskets (7), and the distance between the ring-joint gaskets (7) in the installed position of the damping means (2) is slightly greater than the length of the damping means (2).

7. Tool holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping means (2) is accommodated in the tool holder (1) with a possibility for a very small axial displacement, but without clamping.

8. Tool holder according to claim 5, characterized in that the elastically deformable means (5) as well as the gaskets (6) comprise O-rings made of nitrile, and the damping means (2) is made from a high-density steel.

9. Tool holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping means (2) presents a diameter that is less than that of the compartment (3) of the tool holder (1) by approximately 1 mm, and the elastically deformable means (5) present an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the compartment (3) by a value of 0.1-0.9 mm.

10. Tool holder according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping means (2) is provided with an axial perforation (21) through which a lubricant supply tube (8) passes.